Rectangular container and hermetical seal therefor



E. S. TUPPER July 3, 1956 RECTANGULAR CONTAINER AND HERMETICAL. SEAL THEREFOR 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29. 1954 I EQQL s. w/ PER 15g] INVENTOR.

E.S.TUPPER July 3, 1956 RECTANGULAR CONTAINER AND HERMETICAL SEAL THEREFOR Filed June 29, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 3, 1956 E. s. TUPPER 2,752,970

RECTANGULAR CONTAINER AND HERMETICAL SEAL THEREFOR Filed June 29, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5021. 6.70 PPER IN VEN TOR.

Patented July 3, 1956 RECTANGULAR CONTAINER AND HERWIETICAL SEAL THEREFOR Earl S. Tapper, Upton, Mass.

Application .llune 29, 1954, Serial No. 440,069

7 Claims. (Cl. 150-.5)

This invention relates generally to receptacles and covers therefor, but more specifically to a receptacle of rectangular cross-section and possessing a structure formed of locally deformable and resilient material and which is provided with an integral and rigidifying framework of the same material to prevent undue distortion due to content loads and to maintain hermetical sealing between the cover member and the body of the receptacle.

A main feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rectangularly-shaped receptacle preferably formed of polyethylene or other material having similar physical characteristics, wherein the corner portions of the container are made more rigid by specific conformation, wherein the bottom wall of the container member is made more rigid by edge conformations thereat and wherein the rim of the container member is made more rigid by flange and reinforcing conformations.

Another feature of the invenion resides in the provision of a receptacle having a container of the above description provided with a cover member of similar perimetric shape wherein said cover member is provided with a seal groove generally following the structure shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,487,400 issued to the applicant on November 8, 1949, and which has specific reinforcing and differential wall thicknesses for purposes of hermetical sealing with and for purposes of cover removal from the container member.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a receptacle and cover capable of use for safely storing food and other contents, wherein the container member is provided with hand grasping elements for portability and wherein the device is capable of maintaining temperature and moisture of the contents and is further capable of being introduced into a refrigerator for usual purposes.

A further feature of the invention resides in the provision of a rectangularly-shaped receptacle and removable hermetically-scalable cover particularly adapted to hold large-sized, heavy and large quantities of food stuifs or other materials therewithin for maintenance of freshness, moisture and insulation from surrounding conditions, and which is capable of transportation, which is free of appreciable distortion in shape of the perimetric framework as a result of bottom and side loads, the bottom being free of sagging while the side walls intermediate the height are resiliently yieldable under load.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims. Accompanying this specification are drawings showing a form of the invention wherein:

Figure l is a view in perspective of the rectangularlyshaped receptacle and cover applied.

Figure 2 is a view in perspective showing the container of the receptacle member with the cover member removed from the rim portion and indicating the capacity of the interior of the receptacle.

Figure 3 is a View in perspective showing the receptacle with cover applied as being stored in a refrigerator.

Figure 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary view in section across the plane 4-4 of Figure 1 showing a corner of the cover disengaged from the receptacle.

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view of Figure 1 across the plane 5-5 thereof.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of the receptacle and cover members partly in section across the plane 6-6 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the receptacle or container member having vegetable contents and showing one means of grasping the same when transporting the device.

In accordance with the invention and the preferred form shown, numeral .10 indicates generally the receptacle or container and cover portion, while numerals 11 and 12 represent one pair of opposite walls of the container respectively and numerals 13 and 14 represent the other pair of opposite walls respectively. Each of the walls 1114 as shown tapers inwardly from the top and forms with each other curvilinear edges developing an elongated surface portion of a frusto-conical section. The said corners are each indicated by numerals 15, 16, 17 and 18 respectively.

Adjacent the lower ends of opposite walls 11, 12, 13 and 14 and along the length thereof are inwardly directed straight wall portions each indicated respectively by 11a, 12a, 13a andlia, the said straight walls meeting in curved surface portions or corners also of frusto-conical conformations at and as indicated by numerals 15a, 16a, 17a and 18a.

A flat bottom wall 19 continuing with the ,lower edges of the inwardly directed straight wall portions Ila-14a and lower corners 15a18a forms the bottom of the container or receptacle and is capable of sustaining heavy loads within the receptacle without any substantial sagging by virtue of the rigidifying effect of the inward inclination of at least the wall portions 11a--14a and container corners 1518, 15a-18a, despite the fact that the container material is made of a locally deformable yet resilient composition such as polyethylene or other substance having similar physical characteristics. Moreover, the side Walls 11-14 of the container when the cover is off are capable of yieldability along vertical planes above the walls Ila-14a between the effective frame corners 15-18 for increase of volumetric capacity.

The peripheral rim portion of the container side walls 1114 is indicated by numeral 2d and adjacent and therebelow is a peripheral flange generally indicated by numeral 21. Said flange consists of an outwardly extending horizontal flange portion 22 and a downwardly oflset portion 23, the corners of said flange portion being rounded. At spaced intervals of the flange portion includ ing the corners and other intermediate positions are a plurality of reinforcing tab members each indicated by numeral 24-, the inner edges thereof being formed with the corners and side walls of the container while the top edges are formed with the lower sides of flange portions 22 and 23. The outer edge 25 of each of the tab member tapers inwardly from the lower edge of flange portion 23 meeting the surface of the side walls 10-44- intermediate the height thereof as best shown in Figure 5.

The tabs 24- serve to rigidify and prevent the flange portions 22 and 23 from yielding when used as a supporting or handle means to enable the lifting and portability of the container at the flange portions as seen in Figure 7.

Thus, the container has eifective corner frame portions depending therefrom in the form of corners 15-18 and lower corners 15a-18a whereby the side container walls 3 are yieldable therebetween under load and shape-retaining without load.

The closure member for the container is of rectangular shape and is provided with a top wall 26 provided with an elevated and inverted peripheral groove generally'indicated by numeral 27 and consisting of an inner wall 23, an outer wall 29, a top connecting wall 30 and an out- Wardly extending flange 31 connected to wall 29 by a web 32. Flange 31 at its outer edge has a finger-engaging and depending rib 32a. The inverted groove indicated generally by numeral 27 is rounded at the corners of the cover and follows the rounded contour of the rim 20 at the corner areas. The top cover wall 26 is joined to groove inner wall 28 by an inclined web 33 and for purposes of maintaining rigidity of top wall 26, there is provided a depending peripheral bead 34. Variations in thickness of the cover walls provide both for hermetical sealing between the inverted groove 27 and rim 20 and for easy disconnection from the container by grasping flange 31 or depending portion 32a at the underside as shown in Figure 4.

Thus, the inner groove wall 28 is preferably thicker than top wall 26 and groove outer wall 29 for purposes of serving as a rigid framework for cover top wall 26, while the outer groove wall 29 is of less thickness for easy disengagement since the function thereof is to effectuate hermetical sealing between the cover and the rim 20 when the members are in engagement. Another point of sealing between the cover and container lies between the inner surface of top connecting wall 30 and the upper edge portion of rim 20. The aforesaid sealing points relative to wall 29 obtain when the outer opposite dimensions of rim wall 20 are greater than the opposite inner dimensions of groove wall 29.

It is to be noted that web 32 is reduced in thickness to serve as a hinge. For, by upward finger pressure on skirt 31, web 32 yields carrying with it a separation of groove outer wall 29 from the outer surface of the rim 20, the upper portion of wall 29 also acting from top wall 30 as a hinge point.

The container and cover are particularly suitable for use in a refrigerator as best shown in Figure 3 where hermetically sealed contents are required to be in a refrigerating temperature. The device is capable of transporting food contents with and without the cover in closed position as has been stated, but when the cover is in closed position, the upper perimeter of the container is further rigidified by the rigidifying action of the inverted groove of the cover member thus permitting side walls 11-14 under loads to yield between the effective frame portions afforded by cover groove 27, corners 18 and 15a-18a and peripheral side walls Ila-14a.

It is felt that the container and cover above described has uses in addition to the food field where both hermetical sealing is demanded and variable capacity is required by reason of resilient yieldability of side walls 11-14. The 'hermetical sealing between the rim of the side walls 1114 and the cover groove 2'7 is effected by the curved corners in the form of cylindrical surface sections tangential with the adjacent straight wall parts.

It is further to be noted that the inclined side wall portions 11a-14a serving as a peripheral bottom rigidifying frame actually prevents distortion or relative movement of the effective corner frame portions 1518 and 15a18a.

The container and cover being formed of polyethylene or other material having similar physical characteristics may be formed by compression or injection or any other type of molding. Moreover, the material used does not absorb and is not readily wetted by Water; is odorless and resistant to acids, gases, alkalis, solvents and other chemicals at ordinary temperatures; will not soften far below the boiling point of water; is resistant to mildews, micro-organisms and insects; has flexibility and elasticity r5. with a slow rate of recovery and is frictional and waxy to the touch.

I wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the location, size, integration, material and assembly of parts may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

In applying the cover member to the container, the cover groove at any corner area is forced over the rim 20 at any corner until engagement is made, and thereafter by sliding movement and downward pressure of the thumb over the groove top wall 30 with the other fingers resting under the flange 21, peripheral engagement is effected. Likewise, in the removal of the cover member, any corner of the cover is first disengaged from a corresponding corner of container rim 20 by applying the thumb under flange 31 and the other fingers on cover wall 26. Thereafter, the remainder of the cover is peeled off the rest of rim 20.

By reason of the effective reinforcing portions of the device, the gauge of material need not be heavy and this contributes to the lightness, efficiency, and economy of the device.

I claim:

1. An open-mouthed container of resilient material including polyethylene and of rectangular cross-section comprising opposite side walls and rounded corners, a bottom wall, an outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent and below the open-mouthed outer rim wall portion to serve as a handle and to reinforce said rim, inwardly extending straight side wall portions adjacent the bottom and along the length of said side walls and extending to the bottom wall whereby the corners and the inwardly extending side wall portions form a less resilient framework for the container.

2. An open-mouthed container of resilient material including polyethylene and of rectangular cross-section comprising opposite side walls and rounded corners, a bottom wall, an outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent and below the open-mouthed outer rim wall portion to serve as a handle and to reinforce said rim, inwardly directed straight side wall portions adjacent the bottom and along the length of the side walls and extending to the bottom wall, said inwardly directed side wall portions being rounded at the corners whereby the first mentioned rounded corners and the inwardly extending side wall portions form a less resilient framework for the container, whereby the bottom wall is prevented from sagging under load and whereby the side wall portions are resiliently yieldable between the first mentioned rounded corners and the inwardly directed side wall portions between the rounded corners thereof. I

3. An open-mouthed container of resilient material and of rectangular cross-section comprising opposite and flat inwardly inclined side walls and rounded corners, a fiat bottom wall, an outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent and below the open-mouthed outer rim wall portion to serve as a handle and to reinforce said rim, inward- 1y directed and flat side wall portions adjacent the bottom and along the length of the side walls and extending to the bottom wall, the said rounded corners and the inwardly directed side wall portions serving as a less resilient framework whereby the bottom wall is normally flat and is prevented from sagging under load and whereby the side walls are given yieldability between the rounded corners and the inwardly directed side wall portions when the container is under load.

4. An open-mouthed container of resilient plastic material and of rectangular cross-section comprising opposite and inwardly inclined side walls having continuous rounded corners, a bottom wall, an outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent and below the open-mouthed outer rim wall portion and having spaced supporting tabs secured between said flange and side walls to serve as a handle in conjunction with said flange and to reinforce said rim wall portion, inwardly directed side wall portions adjacent the bottom and along the length of the side walls and extending to the bottom wall and meeting at rounded corners whereby the normally shape-retaining bottom wall is prevented from sagging under load and whereby the side walls are rendered resiliently yieldable between the first mentioned rounded corners and the inwardly directed side wall portions.

5. An open-mouthed container of polyethylene and of rectangular cross-section comprising opposite and inwardly inclined flat side walls joining at continuous rounded corners, a bottom wall, an outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent and below the ope11-1nouthed outer rim wall portion, a plurality of spaced vertically extending reinforcing tabs secured between the underside of the said flange and the side Walls to render said flange more rigid at the regions of said tabs against yieldability when the said flange is used as handle for support of the container, inwardly directed flat side wall portions adjacent and along the length of bottom of the side walls extending to the bottom wall and joining at rounded corners serving to prevent the bottom wall from sagging under load, the said side Wall portions being yieldable between the said inwardly directed side wall portions and all of the mentioned rounded corners.

6. In combination, an open-mouthed container of resilient plastic material and of rectangular cross-section comprising opposite and flat side walls joining at continuous and rounded corners, a bottom wall, an outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent and below the openmouthed outer rim wall portion, inwardly directed straight side wall portions adjacent and along the bottom of the side walls and extending to the bottom wall, the said inwardly directed side wall portions serving to prevent the bottom wall from sagging under load, the side walls being resiliently yieldable between the said rounded corners and the inwardly directed side wall portions, a resilient and plastic closure member for hermetically sealing the container and having the same peripheral shape as the open-mouthed rim and comprising a peripheral and upwardly extending inverted groove formed of inner, outer and top walls, the outer wall of the groove being provided with a flange member adapted to overlie the first mentioned flange, the inverted groove walls of the cover member when operatively engaging and surrounding the rim serving as an upper reinforcing frame for the container whereby the side walls may be resiliently yieldable between said groove and rim, the inwardly directed side wall portions and the rounded corners.

7. In combination, an open-mouthed container of polyethylene and of rectangular cross-section comprising opposite and inwardly inclined side walls joining at continuous and rounded corners, a bottom wall, an outwardly extending peripheral flange adjacent and below the openmouthed outer wall rim portion, a plurality of spaced reinforcing tabs secured between the underside of said flange and the side walls to reinforce said flange when the flange is used as a handle, inwardly directed side wall portions adjacent and along the bottom of the side walls and extending to the bottom wall whereby the bottom wall is prevented from sagging under load, the side walls being yieldable between the said inwardly directed side wall portions and the rounded corners, a cover member of the same material as and for the rim outer wall portion of the container for hermetically sealing the same and comprising a peripheral and upwardly extending inverted grooved engaging rim formed of inner", outer and top walls, the outer Wall of the grooved rim. having a flange extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to overlie the first mentioned flange, the said inverted grooved rim of the cover member serving as a rim framework when the cover member engages the container whereby the side walls of the container are made resiliently yieldable between the said grooved rim and the container side wall rim portion, the inwardly directed side wall portions and the rounded corners.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,238,830 Schuster et al Sept. 4, 1917 1,387,520 Thomas Aug. 16, 1921 1,945,878 Breton Feb. 6, 1934 1,972,895 Maccoy Sept. 11, 1934 2,289,913 Joor July 14, 1942 2,376,263 Marner May 15, 1945 2,487,400 Tupper Nov. 8, 1949 2,599,727 Schmidt June 10, 1952 2,606,586 Hill Aug. 12, 1952 2,614,727 Robinson Oct. 21, 1952 2,634,020 Bartholomew Apr. 7, 1953 2,695,645 Tupper Nov. 30, 1954 2,695,732 Tupper Sept. 30, 1954 

